Fulong Temple Introduction
The historical development of Fulong Temple in Kehu Village, Zhudong Township dates back to the Daoguang Era of the Qing Dynasty, specifically in the fourteenth year of the Jiajing cycle (1834 AD). During this time, Li Siyian, the Tamsui County magistrate, was authorized to engage the Guangdong native Jiang Xiuluan to cultivate the southeastern mountain area of Zhuzhen. The government provided financial assistance of 1,000 silver dollars, with support from a person from Fujian, Zhou Bangzheng, who was also involved in the cultivation efforts. They collected resources from the Fujian and Guangdong populations, leading to the establishment of a joint agricultural venture, known as "Jinguangfu" or "Kenghao." The Jiang and Zhou families became leaders in this initiative. The name "Jinguangfu" reflected the contributions from the government, the Guangdong residents, and the Fujian residents who participated in the cultivation. The Kehu area was surrounded by mountains with a central basin covered in dense forests. The local indigenous tribes were located at higher ground, making attacks difficult, while the outer areas were lower and more accessible. Consequently, the cultivation party from neighboring regions could not easily enter. They shifted their attack from a nearby settlement known as "Xiaxian Cai" to areas like Shuqilin and Fan Shezi. That night, the indigenous people witnessed three kings descending from the sky with troops. In their fear, they retreated without a fight overnight. In the Fan Shezi area, which is now known as Wangye Temple, an elderly woman unable to move remained behind. Following this event, the Han Chinese entered Kehu and built a rudimentary temple to honor the Three Mountain Kings, known as "Wangye Temple." With land from Zhou Garden, the Jiang and Zhou families could not agree on property division and thus designated it as "Wangye Temple" for worship purposes. During the Japanese occupation, it was referred to as "Wangyechang" temple. As Han settlers cultivated rice paddies in Kehu, the land prospered due to its fertile soil surrounded by mountains, with no seasonal winds blowing in. The clear, winding streams supported abundant agricultural production, leading to population growth supported by divine blessings. While there were no roads connecting Zhuzhen to Shuqilin (now Hsinchu to Zhudong), there were ox carts leading to Kehu, which had a transport station at Wangye Temple. Supplies were carried by hand from the nearby regions, and due to this trade, various shops flourished. In June of the twenty-first year of the Guangxu Era (1895), Japanese troops invaded Zhuzhen. In the Kehu area, locals organized a defense against the Japanese soldiers at the Seventh Neighborhood mountain, building a lookout post that remains known as "Aichatu." Across from Wangye Temple, a night watch base called "Gengliaotu" was established. Due to Han resistance, the Japanese burned Wangye Temple and the surrounding village. After the war subsided, in the twenty-third year of Guangxu (1897), public donations funded the reconstruction of Wangye Temple, which included five main halls and six auxiliary halls built from earthen bricks. By the twenty-third year of the Republic of China (1934), on January 25, the gold statue of the Three Mountain Kings was renovated. That year in May, the Three Mountain Kings performed a second miracle to aid the people in distress, attracting thousands seeking blessings. Following Taiwan's restoration in the thirty-fifth year of the Republic (1946), the temple was renamed Fulong Temple. Due to weathering and being constructed from earthen bricks, it became dilapidated and leaky. In the seventy-first year of the Republic (1981), a reconstruction initiative was launched, and the first management committee was established to oversee temple affairs. On March 24, the seventy-ninth year of the Republic (1990), the temple organized a pilgrimage to mainland temples such as Meizhou Mazu Temple, Nanputuo Temple, and Sanshan Guowang Ancestor Temple, where they obtained an incense burner statue for worship back at Fulong Temple. From November 27, a five-day celebration ceremony was held to pray for favorable weather and national stability.
